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A Narrative Review of the Needs of Children in Foster and Kinship Care: Informing a Research Agenda

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 October 2020

Jacqueline Kemmis-Riggs  and
John McAloon Open the ORCID record for John McAloon [Opens in a new window]
Jacqueline Kemmis-Riggs
Affiliation:
Discipline of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
John McAloon*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: John McAloon, Discipline of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, 100 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW2007, Australia. Email: john.mcaloon@uts.edu.au
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Abstract

As a result of maltreatment, children in care can present with a range of complex needs and challenges. In addition to direct clinical care commonly provided by paediatricians, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists, the provision of knowledge and skills to foster and kinship carers have become modes of support common in responding to these needs and challenges. A narrative review of key systematic reviews and empirical research was conducted to assess the effectiveness of existing foster carer interventions. Results indicated a range of methodological characteristics that limit our ability to develop a sound, research-driven, evidence base. As a result, we remain limited in our knowledge about which treatments are effective, for which symptoms they are effective, and for which population subgroups they are most likely to be effective. This review provides a summary of identified needs and challenges in the delivery of foster carer interventions. It provides an account of current treatment components and offers a platform for the development and progression of a programme of research in an effort to advance knowledge in the area.

Keywords

foster carekinship carelooked after childrenreview
Type
Review Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 37 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 171 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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